Episode 42: Battle in Outer Space (1959) (The Space Race between the US and the USSR)

Daniel DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization Project comes back to the show to review this tokusatsu extravaganza. The film is based in science-fiction, action, and Ishiro Honda’s particular brand of optimistic pacifism. With the combination of superb models and vehicles, top-notch effects, and a unique fast-paced story, the movie does everything well all at once. We discuss how cool it would be to be inside the theater that gets destroyed by an absolute zero weapon in the movie you’re watching in it, Yoshio Tsuchiya’s mind control adventure, and militarizing the crap out of the space program in the name of peace. The related topic for this episode is the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

You can find Daniel DiManna’s Godzilla Novelization Project here:

godzillanovelizationproject.wordpress.com

This episode is dedicated to Eiji Tsuburaya.

I’d like to send a shout-out to our patron Sean Stiff for donating at the Kaiju Visionary level. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it.

 

MP3:

Introduction: 0:00 – 2:36

Part 1 – Film Description: 2:36 – 7:10

Part 2 – Opinion and Analysis: 7:10 – 1:41:23

Part 3 – Related Topic: 1:41:23 – 1:59:17

Closing: 1:59:17 – End

 

Host/Editor/Director/Scenic Videos: Brian Scherschel

Guest Co-Host: Daniel DiManna

Video Location: Lincoln Bank Tower, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Music: Audiophiliac (www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

“Torii Gate” Banners: Kevin Geary (kevincgearydesign.com)

Logos: Nanoparticles (www.fiverr.com/nanoparticles)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Episode 39: The Mysterians (1957) (Normalization of Japan-USSR Relations)

They want your land, your women, then more of your land, and, well, you get the idea. The aliens have even searched through binders full of women for very best ones. Listen as I analyze Moguera, the Markalite FAHPs, and those fabulous matte paintings! And then I’ll connect the story in the movie to contemporary events: The normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union in 1956.

This episode is dedicated to eminent virtuoso actor Takashi Shimura.

I’d like to send a shout-out to our patron Sean Stiff for donating at the Kaiju Visionary level. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it.

MP3:

Introduction: 0:00 – 2:35

Part 1 – Film Description: 2:35 – 10:04

Part 2 – Opinion and Analysis: 10:04 – 33:19

Part 3 – Related Topic: 33:19 – 45:39

Closing: 45:39 – End

 

Host/Editor/Director/Scenic Videos: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton construction site, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Music: Audiophiliac (www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

“Torii Gate” Banners: Kevin Geary (kevincgearydesign.com)

Logos: Nanoparticles (www.fiverr.com/nanoparticles)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Episode 20: Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) (Emperor Hirohito in the 1970s, the Yasukuni Shrine)

The Showa Series (and ‘70s month) comes to an end in this week’s episode, wherein Nate gushes over one of his favorite Godzilla films. This is a “dark™” melodrama with complex characters, lots of explosions, incredible kaiju action—and alien invaders who almost undermine the movie’s tone. Listen as Nate argues the film’s merits to Brian by connecting it to C.S. Lewis (you read that right!). Since this is the final entry in the Showa Series, our related topics are Emperor Showa’s first visit to the United States in 1971, his first press conference in 1975, and the Yasukuni Shrine.

MP3:

Introduction: 0:00 – 2:13

Part 1 – Film Description: 2:13 – 7:57

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 7:57 – 1:05:47

Part 3 – Related Topic: 1:05:47 – 1:52:50

Closing: 1:52:50 – End

 

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge (St. Mary’s River), Fort Wayne, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

Episode 19: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) (The Reversion of Okinawa: History and Culture)

The first Mechagodzilla film is roughly a spoof of James Bond and a twist on The Planet of the Apes, only the apes are alien invaders! The soundtrack fits like a glove to this gloriously campy and fun movie, made to celebrate Godzilla’s 20th anniversary.  Because this movie features an Okinawan kaiju, King Caesar, our related topic is the history and culture of Okinawa. Join Brian and Nate as they continue on with 70s Month – every 70s movie in the series in just one month. This episode is dedicated to Shinichi Sekizawa.

MP3:

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:49

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:49 – 6:38

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 6:38 – 51:43

Part 3 – Related Topic: 51:43 – 1:25:09

Closing: 1:25:09 – End

 

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved

 

Episode 17: Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) (Globalization/Trade/Corporations, 1972 Winter Olympics)

For this week’s episode, we present Brian’s favorite Godzilla movie! Though it’s an underrated movie, it sold the most tickets of any of the late Showa series movies (after 1968). It’s also filmed well, full of action, yet also cerebral. The movie contains a story with multi-layered symbolism, yet it has lots of fire, explosions, and monster fights. Plus it’s infused with the Japanese National Spirit. Listen to Brian and Nate synthesize everything fascinating about this movie. Our related topics are the symbolism of Godzilla vs. Gigan and the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. Our 4k video for this episode was made at a location much farther away from home than usual: New York state.

We’d like to send a shout-out to our patrons Kyoei Toshi and Sean Stiff for pledging at the Kaiju Visionary level. Thank you for your support! We really appreciate it.

This episode is dedicated to Haruo Nakajima.

MP3:

Introduction: 0:00 – 1:40

Part 1 – Film Description: 1:40 – 6:33

Part 2 – Opinion and Discussion: 6:33 – 45:42

Part 3 – Related Topic: 45:42 – 1:19:36

Closing: 1:19:36 – End

 

Host: Brian Scherschel

Co-Host: Nathan Marchand

Editor: Brian Scherschel

Video Location: Donahue Memorial Park, Cornwall-On-Hudson, New York

Video: Brian Scherschel

Music: Audiophiliac (http://www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

Copyright Brian J. Scherschel

All Rights Reserved